Signs that Your Bra Fits – Braducational Video

By Kim on June 4th, 2013

Kim here! I love helping women find the best fitting bras, and there are a lot of things that we certified bra fitters look for when it comes to a good fit. At Linda’s, we have a lot of bra knowledge and can help women pick between a good and great fitting bra. But what if you don’t have one of us with you? What if you have a favorite bra and aren’t sure if it’s fitting properly anymore? Don’t despair! Here are a few basic things to look for when bra shopping, or when checking in on your current bras.

Sign of a Good Fit: A Snug Back Band The most important part of a good fit is a snug back band! The bra band provides about 90% of the bra’s support. If it’s too loose, your band will ride up in the back, causing straps to fall and breasts to fall forward and (ultimately) down. If your bra’s band is too loose, then the cup size, the straps, etc. are almost irrelevant. Your bra’s band should fit straight across from underneath your bust to your back. It should be parallel with the ground, not riding up or dipping down. Remember, your band shouldn’t be so snug that it’s choking you, but it needs to be snug enough to hug your body and stay in place all day. Tip: If your bra band is riding up in the back, it usually means that it’s too big or has stretched. Since bras stretch over time, I suggest buying a new bra that fits snugly on the loosest hook. That way, as it stretches you can move the hooks in to the second and third set of eyes to get that same snug fit. After you’ve been wearing your bra on that tightest hook and it starts riding up your back… it’s stretched out and your bra is officially dead. Time to replace it!

A note on back fat: We all have it. Women often complain about the elastic band of their bra digging in to their flesh and causing overhang or bulging. That’s pretty normal. Again, your bra shouldn’t choke you, but it has to hug your body to stay put. So unless you’re made of steel – it’s going to happen! My advice is to ignore it and focus on the perky look you’ll get from wearing the right band size!

Sign of a Good Fit: Straps Stay in Place While your band does the heavy lifting, it’s your straps’ job to keep your cup flush against your body. Bra straps should be snug enough to offer some resistance, but not dig in. Again, if your back is too loose, you lose all of that support and your breasts start weighing on your straps, causing them to dig in! So before you start adjusting your straps, check on your bra band and make sure it fits properly.

Here’s a good rule of thumb: if you can get a stretchy, elastic strap up to your ear easily, it’s too loose. You should have to use some effort to lift a stretchy strap about a 1/2” from your shoulder.

Sign of a Good Fit: Underwire Fits Around Your Breast A lot of women who hate underwire bras are usually in the wrong size. In the right size and style for you, the underwire should sit on your body directly around your breast tissue. Not on your breast, not far below it, and never digging in. Also, the band and underwire should sit on your body between your breasts, not float away from it. This is called “tacking“. If your bra does not tack, it could mean that your band is too big or your cup is too small. To make sure that your wire is sitting on your body and not on top of breast tissue, tell your boobs where to go! Adjust your breast tissue forward and inside the wire with one hand, and use the other to pull the wire back. You can watch this Braducational video on How to Put On Your Bras that explains the right way to adjust your cups.

Sign of a Good Fit: Breasts Fit Perfectly in the Cup With your band, wire, and straps adjusted your breasts should perfectly fill up your cup. There should be no bubbling over, or spillage, and no extra room, or gaping.

Tip: Stand to the side and look at your profile in a mirror. Your nipple should be about half way between your shoulder and your elbow. Any lower – and you’re sagging! That means you may need a different style or different size to get adequate support.

You can use these basic tips to check on your current bras, or when trying on new bras at home. Of course, visiting a Linda’s shop for an in-person fitting with an expert Bra Diva is always ideal, but I hope these tips help! For more information or if you have questions, visit us online or at a Linda’s shop!

Until the next video!

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Linda Unhooked

Linda Unhooked is the place to solve all your nagging bra problems, with no-nonsense fashion advice for women of all sizes. Linda "the Bra Lady" Becker is an expert bra fitter in New York City.